ASHEVILLE – Three North Buncombe students have been disciplined for inappropriate conduct during a recent varsity basketball game with Polk County High School.

Administrators said they investigated reports of improper behavior at the Dec. 13 basketball game between the two schools. The students, who have not been named, were disciplined for "conduct during the varsity basketball game in the gym and in the concession area," the schools said in a joint statement.

Stacia Harris, director of communications for Buncombe County Schools, said there was an altercation when there were two students who "behaved inappropriately" during the game.

She declined to provide additional details of the incident.

"NBHS and PCHS have high expectations for our students and fans, and we are disappointed by the inappropriate behavior displayed during this game and at halftime," the schools said in a joint statement, released to the news media by Harris. "This incident has been handled jointly by both school systems, and we look forward to moving ahead in a positive direction."

North Buncombe coach Chuck Robinson told the Citizen Times that Polk forfeited the game at halftime. Polk later canceled its full slate of games this week after another separate altercation during last week's game in Landrum.

North Buncombe will continue its regularly scheduled basketball games this week.

An online petition from a Polk County fan, titled “Ban on sports for North Buncombe High in NC," generated more than 18,000 online signatures as of Tuesday. It claims the altercation was prompted by racial slurs, "ropes tied into nooses" and an assault on a Polk junior varsity player. Details shared in the petition have not been independently confirmed by the Citizen Times.

"The school should be banned from taking part in any games until they clean house and get rid of racist people in their school and athletics programs," the petition states.